Line indicator and means of attachment to a notebook



Sept. 20, 1938. B. E. VAN ALSTYNE LINE INDICATOR AND MEANS OF ATTACHMENT TO'A NOTEBOOK Filed Oct. 26, 1936 INVENTOR ZQMQJTYWE w /m 7 ATTORNEY.

. Patented Sept. 20, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bonnie E. Van Alstyne, San Francisco, Calif. Application October 26, 1936, Serial No. 107,525

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a line indicator and means of attachment to a note book, and it consists of the combinations, constructions and arrangements hereinafter described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a line indicator with means which may be removably secured to the rigid cover and back of a note book and hold the note book in a position where the ends of the cover and back will rest on a supporting surface. The device has adjustable means for gripping the cover and the back of the note book and holding these in a position where they will make an acute angle with respect to each other. l

The device also makes use of a line indicating member that is slidable along a guide bar that parallels one side of the book and forms a part of the device. The line indicating member is carried by an arm that is pivoted to a sleeve that slides on the guide bar, and this arm permits the member to lie flat on the exposed portion of the note book regardless of the number of pages in this portion. The guide bar projects above the top of the note book hinge, and this permits the line indicating member to be moved to the upper most line on the note book page.

The device can be secured readily to a note book using a coil spring for a hinge, or may be secured to a note book in which stitching is employed for securing the pages in place. It further is possible to use the back cover of the note book as a support for a separate page and secure this page in position on the back cover by the same clamping means that attaches the copy holder to the book. In this arrangement all of the leaves of the note book are disposed on the cover side of the book.

The device is extremely simple in construction,-

and when removed from the note book it may be folded into a compact size. The sleeve of the line indicator may be removed from the guide bar, and this allows the line indicator to be placed along side of the guide bar' when the device is not used. I also provide novel means for securing the connecting link in a position paralleling the guide bar. This link normally extends between the cover and back of the note book when the device is used.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application in h h Figure 1 is an isometric view of the device shown operatively applied to the note book;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a' portion of the device shown operatively applied to a different type of note book;

Figure 3 is a front elevation oi the device with the link in folded position; T .Figure 4 is a view of the opposite side of the device shown in Figure 3;

V Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 4.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a note book indicated generally at Ain Figure 1. This book has a rigid cover I, a rigid back 2 and pages 3. The cover, back and pages are hinged together by a coil spring 4 that is passed through aligned openings 5.

My device comprises a guide bar 6 that is preferably U-shaped in cross section and provided with a resilient foot 1, such as rubber, at its lower end. Figure 3 shows the guide bar 6 carrying an upper clip 8 and a lower clip 9. These two clips are designed to grip the note book back 2 and constitute the attaching means for the bar 6. The clips support the guide bar 6 parallel to the side of the note book, and in a position where the resilient foot will engage with the supporting surface. In this way the note book supports the bar and the resilient foot I frictionally engages with the supporting surface for holding the device and the book against accidental movement. The foot I also prevents the guide bar 6 from marring the supporting surface.

The upper clip is made from spring metal and carries two outer spring fingers l0 and a central spring finger II. The spring finger H is spaced above the plane of the fingers IIJ so that the fingers ID will grip one side of the back 2 while the finger l I grips the opposite side of the back. The longitudinal edges I2 of the middle finger are curved upwardly to a slight extent for a purpose hereinafter described.

The bottom clip 9 has two gripping jaws l3 and l4 yieldingly urged toward each other by a cylindrical spring I5. The jaw l3 has an integral arm l6 that is secured to the guide bar 6, while the jaw l4 carries an integral handle l1. The jaws l3 and I4 may be swung away from each other when the guide bar 6 and the handle I! are manually moved toward each other, see Figure 5. The jaws l3 and i4 grip the back 2 of the note book.

It will be seen thus far that the two clamps 8 and 9 removably secure the guide bar 6 to the is integral with the handle ll. The other end of the link l8 also is bentat right angles, as at 2|, and a sleeve 22 pivotally connects this end to a clip 23. The clip 23 is U-shaped and is slipped over the cover I as shown in Figure 1. The sleeves 2D and 22 permit adjustment of the clip 23 along the cover When the device is disconnected from a note book the link I8 is swung into a position paralleling the guide bar 6 and the bent end 2| 'of the link may be removably received in'a leaf spring 24 carried by the clip 8. l

The guide bar 6 slidably carries a line indicator which includes a split sleeve 25/ This sleeve 25 has a flange 26 that carries a leaf spring 21 for frictionally engaging withthe inner surface of the guide bar. The leaf spring 2! permits the sleeve to be moved along the guide bar and holds the sleeve in adjusted position, An arm 281's pivoted to the sleeve 25 at 29 and the free end of this arm carries a line indicating member 30. Figure 1 shows the member 30 extending across the surface of a page 3 of the note book, and Figure 2 shows how the arm 28 can swing to permit the'member to rest upon the page 3 regardless of the thickness of the note book.

From the foregoing description of the-various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. r

As already stated the device may be applied quickly to the rigid back of a note book and the line indicator may be moved from line to line on the page 3 as the notes are copied. The indicator 30 has aprojection 3| by means of which the line indicator may be moved vertically, and by means of which the arm 28 may be swung to space the line indicating member above the page during the turning ,of a leaf. The link I8 rigidly holds the cover I and the back 2 in proper position, and constitutes the baseof a triangle the sides of which are the cover I and the pack 2. The apex of the triangle is the hinge of thebook which in Figure 1 is a coil spring 4, and in Figure 2 is a standard note book hinge. -Care is taken when applying the device to a-book to position the rubber foot 1 Where it will frictionally engage With the supporting surface, and thus aid in holding the book against accidental movement. After a page'has been typed, the leaf may be turned, and then the lineindicator raised to indicate the uppermost line on the next page. Y

When all of the pages are'turned the back 2 presents a surface that is adapted to support one or more loose leaves not shown. These leaves may be secured to the back by passing them beneath the jaw l3 and the metal spring finger I I. The curved edges I2 of the finger ll permit the ready insertion of the", leaf.

The link can be freed from the note book cover by removing the sliding clip 23 and this-will permit'the note book to be used in the usual manner for taking dictation without the necessityof. re-' moving the entire device from the book. A

The device is extremely simple in construction, and when removed from the'book, it occupies very little space. The sleeve 25 may beremoved from the guide bar' 6, and this will permit the line indicator to be placed along sideof the guide bar when storing the device.

It is possible when using the back 2 as a support for individual sheets, to secure the sheets in place by only the top clip 8. It further is possible to use only the bottom clip when holding the sheets in place, or to use both clips, this depending on whether the matter to be copied from the sheet is positioned adjacent to the clips.

The sliding clip 23 has a long and a short side in order to facilitate the connection with the note book cover. The edges of the sliding clip are curved and this will permit the ready attach- 'm'ent of the clip to the note book cover without marring it., The clip 23 can be moved along the cover and will remain in adjusted position. The moving of the clip will vary the angle made be- ;tween the cover and the back of the note book.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes ormodifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

-I claim:

1. A device of the type described comprising a guide bar attachable to the back of a note book, a link operatively connected to the bar and having its free end capable of being connected to the cover of the note book for holding the cover at an angle to the back, and a line indicator slidable along the bar.

2. A device of the type described comprising a guide bar, -clips-carried-by the bar for securing it to a note book back, a third clip securable to the note book cover, a link connecting the third clip to the'guide bar, and a line indicator movable alongthe guide bar.

. 3. A device of the type described comprising a guide bar, clips carried-by the bar for securing it to a note book back, a third clip securable to the note book cover, a link connecting the third clip to the guide bar, a line indicator movable along the guide bar, and means for holding the third clip to one of the first mentioned clips for holding the link in parallel arrangement with the bar.

4. In a device of the type described, a guide bar, a clip secured to the bar and carrying spring fingers designed to engage with opposite sides of a note book cover, a second clip secured to the bar and including spring jaws, manually operated means for opening the spring jaws to receive the cover, a third clip securable to the other cover of the note book, and a link connecting the third and second clips together. a

5, In a device of the type described, a guide bar, aclip secured to the bar and carrying spring fingers designed to engage with opposite sides of a note book cover, a second @111 secured to the bar and including spring jaws, manually operated means for opening the spring jaws to receive the cover, a third clip securable to the other cover of the note book, and a link connecting the third and second clips together, and a leaf spring carried by the first clip for holding the link in inoperative position. a i

6. A device of the type described comprising a member securable to a note book back, a second member securable to a note book cover, and a link connecting themembers together for holding the cover and back at an angle to each other, and a line indicator operatively connected to the first member,

7. A device of the type described comprising a member securable to a note book back. a second to the free end of the link and designed to receive the note book cover, said clip being slidable along the cover for varying the angle made between the cover and the back.

9. In a device of the type described, a guide bar removably attachable to a note book to be supported thereby, a line indicator slidable along the bar, and a rubber foot secured to the lower end of the guide bar for contacting with a supporting surface.

BONNIE E. VAN ALSTYNE. 

